Community News

Following criticism of high-handed town and city councils throughout the UK, the government have urged them to keep their local parks open throughout the coronavirus pandemic, unless it’s impossible to do so.

Housing and Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has revealed that he had intervened in the controversy over the thousands of visitors who are flocking to open green spaces as the warmer weather becomes more regular as we get ever closer to the Easter Bank Holiday.

Jenricks said that he recognised the plight of people “who live in flats without gardens, cramped accommodation, who desperately need these open spaces”.

He said that he had enormous sympathy with local authorities and that closing parks and open spaces should be absolutely the “last resort”.

He added that local councils should be ‘very judicious’ in making that decision.

Due to the increasingly sunny conditions that people are experiencing – with temperatures expecting to rise to around 24C, Mr Jenrick implored people to stay inside despite the warm weather and impending Easter period.

He did, however, say that there were no “immediate plans” for greater restrictions after warning that outside exercise could be banned.

“It would be very unfortunate if we had to do so and make it harder for people, particularly people who live in flats in towns and cities, to get the exercise that they deserve and need”, he said.

“But an exit strategy that’s sustainable will also have to be accompanied by much greater tracing than we are able to do today.

About whether it is acceptable to sit and enjoy the sun while exercising, Health Minister, Matt Hancock did clarify that sunbathing was against the rules.

The government’s Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has said that closing parks and open spaces throughout the UK during the coronavirus lockdown “should be an absolute last resort”.

He said that local councils should be judicious in taking such a step.

A statement from Downing Street stated that the overwhelming majority of the public are following the social distance rules and other relevant measures although one council in London did close a park in their borough saying that thousands of people did flout the guidance laid out due to the warm weather.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson and West Midlands Police are working with key partners from across the Criminal Justice System to ensure that the early release of prisoners is done safely and minimises the risk to the public.

On Saturday 4 April 2020 the Ministry of Justice announced that up to 4,000 "low-risk" prisoners would be released early as part of efforts to tackle the spread of coronavirus in jails.

The meeting convened by the PCC includes partners from West Midlands Police, the Prison Service, Probation Service, Public Health England, local authorities and third sector organisations.
Inmates with two months or less still to serve will be released on temporary licence in stages.

The selected low-risk offenders will be electronically tagged and can be recalled at the first sign of concern.

The PCC and West Midlands Police are keen to ensure that those who are released from prison continue to receive support with substance misuse, they are able to obtain secure accommodation and they are able to receive rehabilitation support to reduce reoffending.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson said: “We are living through unprecedented times and we must do everything to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“I am determined to ensure that the early release programme does not put the safety of the people West Midlands at risk, therefore, this meeting is key to ensuring partners are effectively working together and have clear lines of communication.

“The early release programme will prevent thousands of prisoners and prison staff being infected whilst in prison and this will help reduce pressure on the NHS”.

Superintendent Jane Bailey, deputy head of Criminal Justice Services for West Midlands Police said: “I want to reassure the community that those who are being released early will be subject of electronic monitoring. 

“We are working closely with the prison service and other partners, to link prisoners released early to support and services in the community to prevent any reoffending.”

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service said: “This announcement sets out plans to bring a cohort of people into scope for release who are within two months of their release date.

“Their release will be subject to a number of very strict criteria which will exclude many from being eligible.  Those who are will be released under Release on Temporary Licence ….until they reach their automatic half way release point when they will become our statutory cases, subject to licence supervision in the usual way across the Probation Services.

“To ensure they have the support they require to resettle into the community, those released will receive ongoing Through the Gate support on the key resettlement pathways as they would have received in custody.

“We are working closely with prison colleagues, the police and a range of partners to ensure co-ordinated arrangements are in place to manage the pre-release risk assessment processes and ensure the resettlement support is in place across our area.”

Arron Owen from Cranstoun, the organisation commissioned by the PCC to provide Arrest Referral Services and drug testing in custody said: “In preparation for the early release of many prisoners across the country, it is important that prison and community treatment teams plan a smooth transition for those using drugs and alcohol.

“Continuity of care is essential to protect the service user, families and wider communities. Business as usual is not appropriate in the context of the Covid-19 crisis and both prison and community teams need to work even harder to safeguard as many people as possible.

“Together, we need to ensure there is no disruption to substitute prescribing, that the life-saving medication Naloxone is issued to all drug using prisoners upon release and that treatment continues throughout this extraordinary period”. 

Cranstoun continue to deliver Arrest Referral Services within the custody suites of West Midlands Police. This ensures drug and alcohol using offenders are offered the opportunity to access treatment in this difficult time.

From the desk of Rev. Dr. Toni Luck

10 April 2020

Good Morning beloved. Peace and grace be unto you on this blessed Good Friday.

I don’t know about you but I have often been puzzled about calling today Good Friday. As a child, I
often asked the nuns why was this day good when Jesus had to die. I asked our parish priest, Father
Burns; I asked my mother, Aunt Tillie, what is so good about this day when Jesus was hurt and
scorned and had to die. As grow ups do to children’s honest queries, far too often I must say, they
smiled and would say,” it just is so, or Jesus died for our sins” So what? from a child’s
perspective; and often even from our adult senses, we do ask so why and what is so good about that
anyways?

Then when I got a bit older, around 11 or so, Father Nolan came to our Parish, he was young and as
I remember quite handsome, and very funny, not so stiff and not at all a fuddy-duddy. I liked him
immediately, so I asked him about this dilemma that I faced about “good” Friday. He said two things
that have stayed with me forever and ever even till today. I must say that neither of his answers
made any sense to me at the time and in fact made me angry at God for one of the answers and sad
for Jesus because he was supposed to be God and yet he did not seem to know what “joy” was. And
even more I became suspicious that Father Nolan really did not know anything about this matter
because his answer to me was “because it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” and that was good for us.
And then he added, “for the joy that was set before him, Jesus endured the cross” another thing
that was good, for us. Well I was indeed a smart little girl and neither of these answers made any
sense to me at all, nor did they make me happy or satisfied.
And I did wonder where did Father Nolan get those strange ideas from. You must remember that when
we grew up we had a catechism, but the full Bible in those days was reserved for the priests. So,
while Father Nolan was handsome and kind and very smart and funny, it seemed to me, that day he was
really dumb. Of course, I had to go to confession to confess that I thought a Priest of God was
dumb and of course he was the one hearing confession and after he laughed out loud, I was surely
forgiven and did not even have to do any Hail Marys that day for my
“transgression” of calling a Priest dumb.

However, his words and those thoughts resonated with me for many years and when I met the Lord
personally almost 30 years later and read the Bible for myself and became acquainted with the story
and its intentions, I began to rise in love with the Man from Galilee, finally understanding what
it meant “for the joy that was set before him...... he endured...” It is to this truth that we come
to today on this Good Friday and the whys and hows of our eternal life.

Every so often during the year I consider the events of this day of 2000 plus years ago, and more
so at this time of the year. I go over and over in my mind every single detail of this day. So, I
hope you will please come with me for a moment:

"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint." Psalm 22:14

Fixing our eyes on Yeshuah, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering
for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall
prosper in His hand. Isaiah 53:10

The events began at the Passover dinner that Wednesday night, wherein Yeshuah (aka
Jesus) broke bread with his disciples one last time, and then he did a most magnificent thing, "he
took the towel" That's right he laid aside his garments, wrapped his nakedness with a
towel, filled a basis with water and began to wash the feet of his men, and dried them with what?
Well the towel that was wrapped around him, that's what, so there he was before his men, even
Judas, on his knees, bare, open, vulnerable as he prepared himself for the cross.

After dinner we follow him to the Garden of Gethsemane. He has been all night in agony so much so
that from his brow fell large drops of blood onto the stone where he was praying. Then, he spent
the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, (remember early morning is still dark) he had been
hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate.

Yeshuah was beaten so badly that it tore his flesh, he was bruised, he was spat on, he was
slapped, his whiskers were taken out one by one, oh the agony of it all – yet for the joy set
before him! There’s so much more, he was laughed at, scorned. The very people who had thrown
palms at his feet just a mere 7 days before, we now asking for his blood, his death, his denial,
his torture.

As we follow him down the Via Delarosa, we see that he has but little strength left after being up
all night being scourged and ripped apart, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted him
while Sin, Evil and Hatred, scorn and lust were all eager for his blood, and therefore led him out
to die. Loaded with a rugged wooden cross that weighed 30 kg which he carried for

almost a kilometre, Yeshuah being so weak from all the pain inflicted upon him, bleeding, kept
falling along the way and having to constantly pick up the cross again and again, until by God’s
merciful grace he was helped by Simon of Cyrene. Having reached the “skull” the place of
crucifixion, a crown of three-inch piercing thorns complete with the sap which adds to more
discomfort, were plunged deeply into his head. And then the most heinous act of the Roman Empire –
crucifixion, a tortuous death to say the least.

At the time crucifixion was the "worst" humiliating excruciating death and only the worst
criminals were condemned to be crucified, often left to hang completely naked. Yet it was even more
dreadful for Yeshuah, for unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion, Yeshuah was
nailed to the cross by His hands and feet, rather than tied as was the usual practice... Each rusty
nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrist, not into His palms as is
commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards
knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break,
forcing Yeshuah to use His back muscles to support himself, so that He could breathe –oh for the
joy that was set before him!

Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus, He was forced to support Himself on the single nail
that impaled His feet to the cross. Yeshuah could not support himself with His legs for long
because of the excruciating pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back and using
his legs just to continue to breathe. Beloved imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the
courage, the love, the compassion, the obedience. Yeshuah endured this reality for over 6 hours.
Yes, over 6 hours! Can we even imagine this kind of torture and suffering? - yet for the joy that
was set before him he endured....

To make sure he was dead, a Roman soldier used his lance and pierced his side, at that point He
was simply pouring water from his wounds. He had no more blood to bleed out, as he had poured it
all out for us, only water poured from His wounded side. He had poured out 3.5 liters of blood
(the amount of blood the adult human body holds, just a bit less than a gallon.).

At each remembrance of the details of this day, my soul does weep deeply. And then I remember what
Father Nolan told me many years ago: that it pleased the Lord to bruise him for me, for you, for
the world. And for the joy set before him he endured the cross for me, for you, for the world, and
I am somewhat comforted. But even though I know that the first day of the week, Sunday morning
with its rousing victory is coming, I nevertheless find myself at the foot of the cross on that
Good Friday because at that moment that is all that I have. And as I watch Our Savior not just
take our sins, but become sin, I cannot see joy yet, I see sorrow and pain. What was this joy, and
what pleasure did God get in this bruising. It is amazing the answers to these questions that all
find their foundation in a Love so great we can hardly take it in.

We often question why sin was allowed in the world in the first place. Why God did what he
did, why it could not have been different? However, regardless of our burning questions, we are
yet confronted with the truth that the sovereign God demanded the payment for the sins of all his
people; and Yeshuah stood forward, and to the utmost paid whatever we owed, and He paid it in
blood. It seems that it is WE who are the JOY that was set before him, our lives, our future, our
destiny. We must, today on this Good Friday, be so relieved and grateful to acknowledge that the
sacrifice of Calvary was for us. Moreover, we must remember that this was not a part payment; it
was not a partial exoneration, it was a complete and perfect payment, and it obtained a complete
and perfect remission of all the debts of all of us – imagine we are the joy that was set before
him. I am so present with that fact that on that day when Yeshuah hung on the cross, he did not
leave a single cent for us to pay as a satisfaction to God. The whole of the demands of the law
were paid down there and then by Yeshuah, the great High Priest of all his people. And blessed be
his name, he paid it ALL, AT ONCE. You know that Kings’ ransoms have sometimes been paid a part
at the time, and part in dues afterwards, to run through years. But not so our Saviour: once for
all he gave himself a living sacrifice; at once he counted down the price, and said, DONE! “It is
finished,” leaving nothing for him to do, nor for us to accomplish. He did not drivel out a
part-payment, and then declare that he would come again, no the full ransom price to redeem all
people was paid. And the receipt given to us in the form of our Salvation and Everlasting life. In
this majestic action, one cannot help but see the reality of For the Joy set before him, for He
then nailed the receipt to the cross for us for all eternity.
DONE! FINISHED! HalleluYah!

So, beloved today on this day of days, I now can see why it is called GOOD Friday, for it is a day
full of an activity of LOVE. A LOVE so magnificent that it cost God all for the good of us all.
So, it is truly good for you and good for me, and even good for a world that does not yet
understand or believe for we are His joy, our freedom His pleasure.

May you have a blessed Good Friday, looking forward to Resurrection Sunday remembering that we are
free to live life abundantly in joy, peace and love by his hand and the decision that set Joy
before him for our sakes. Wow and Amen!

I Love you so much and it is obvious that He LOVES YOU AND ME EVEN MORE
I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life
as if there
isn't and die to find out there is.

Pastor Toni Luck
Jerusalem First Ministries Johannesburg, South Africa cell: +27 79 478 7126 skype: drtoniluck1

The Belfry Hotel & Resort, an award-winning luxury hotel and resort home to three iconic golf courses in Royal Sutton Coldfield, North Warwickshire, has claimed victory with five wins at the 10^th annual ceremony of the 59Club European Service Excellence Awards, which took place in March 2020.

The 59Club European Service Excellence Awards honours individuals, teams and venues across Europe from the world of golf for their industry-leading performance throughout the year. Each venue is judged on its performance in sales, service, operations, retail, golf course, food & beverage and management.

The Belfry Hotel & Resort retained its position as the world’s top golfing destination as the venue won the prestigious title of The Ultimate Golf Resort for the second consecutive year and retained its two Gold Flags. Individuals Jacques Hobson, Food & Beverage Manager, and Chris Reeve, Director of Golf, also won awards for Food & Beverage Manager of the Year and Golf Manager of the Year, respectively.

James Macbeth Stewart, Resort Director, said: “Whilst we were up against some strong competition this year, The Belfry’s level of excellence is unmatched testament to the fact that we’ve not only retained our two Gold Flags but have also successfully defended our title as The Ultimate Golf Resort; The Belfry is one of only a handful of venues to have won this category twice.

“We’re incredibly proud of our dedicated team who are critical to delivering the excellent experience for which we’re renowned. I must also give a special thank you to Jacques and Chris who each play a pivotal role in sustaining the resort’s title as best in the business, so these awards are a credit to their great leadership in two of the resort’s most fundamental areas.” 

Following the hotel’s victories in the golf categories, Chris Reeve, Director of Golf, commented: “I am incredibly proud of both myself and the team at the resort for achieving these three prestigious accolades, which not only upholds The Belfry’s illustrious reputation as a world-class golfing resort but also commends the dedication of my wonderful colleagues who are the driving force behind our success.”

Commenting on his win, Jacques Hobson, Food & Beverage Manager, said: “This award is by far one of the greatest achievements of my career to date and I’m honoured to have my efforts recognised. The catering team and I pride ourselves in delivering unrivalled brilliance across all four of the resort’s restaurants and bars.”

The Belfry Hotel & Resort is an award-winning hotel situated in the heart of the country in Royal Sutton Coldfield, North Warwickshire. The hotel’s three golf courses, including The Brabazon and The PGA National, are recognised as world-class, having previously hosted The Ryder Cup four times – more than any other venue in the world – and two European Tour events, producing some of the most dramatic moments in the history of golf.

For more information, please visit www.thebelfry.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 1675 238600 | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Instagram: @thebelfryhotelandresort | Twitter: @TheBelfryHotel |

Facebook:  The Belfry Hotel & Resort

As it continues to thrives in every community, in every country, around the world, the deadly coronavirus epidemic hit a new high in the West Midlands, as two religious leaders in Wolverhampton became the latest additions to the hundreds of thousands of registered tragic fatalities as the ‘fatal mass kill’ knows no bounds.

The two latest names to add to the vastly growing list are well-known religious leaders from the same church in the city.

Reverend Bishop Horatio Fearon and Reverend Theophilus Augustus McCalla MBE were both leading and prominent figures at the Church of God of Prophecy in the city.

Bishop McCall, 86, was also a founder of the Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association in Birmingham. He was said to have had underlying health issues – one o which including him being a diabetic.

Bishop Fearon - who was also in his 80s - died shortly after Bishop McCall. .

The two religious leaders died within 24 hours of each other – both after contacting coronavirus.

One regular churchgoer, who knew both men well, spoke of the major concerns of fellow-parishioners about the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic as the pandemic knows no limit as to who it affects.

It is understood that the congregation is concerned that any number of them might add to its number of fatalities due to the pandemic.

Led by the well-established Pentecostal Holiness Christian church, the Church of God of Prophecy, which, itself was founded in 1923, created Nehemiah United Churches Housing Association which provides accommodation for people predominantly from the Caribbean community.

A step-change for culture is taking place across Birmingham and the region through new leadership at Cultural Central and leadership opportunities via the Birmingham Cultural Compact as well as investment opportunities from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP).

The end of 2019 brought the appointment of Erica Love as Director at Culture Central with a remit to drive forward the vision and ambition of Culture Central as advocate for culture across the city, supporting the development and sustainability of the sector.

As part of that remit Cultural Central is working with Birmingham City Council to establish a ‘Cultural Compact’ for the city. The Birmingham Cultural Compact seeks to co-create and co-deliver a holistic vision for culture in Birmingham. It will link the cultural sector to broader aspirations and priorities for Birmingham and secure partnerships between the cultural sector and other sectors.

Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for Education, Skills and Culture said: “As one of the UK’s core cities, Birmingham was a key contributor to the national Cultural Investment Inquiry and one of the first cities to sign up to establishing a Cultural Compact.

We value really highly the contribution that culture makes to the economy and reputation of our city and look forward to working with a new Chair to take this agenda forward.”

Board Director for Creative & Culture, GBSLEP, Anita Bhalla, said: “With the publication of this Framework we can set out our approach to cultural investments and how it dovetails with broader objectives around placemaking, business growth, stimulating innovation and supporting the talent and skills pipeline.

"By working with partners - such as Culture Central, we can make significant step-change to ensure long-term partnerships with the cultural sector and other stakeholders and enable change for the long-term good of the economy and wider geography.”

Erica Love, Director Culture Central said: “Culture Central is driving a step change in the sustainability and contribution of culture to the life of the city, we are already working with partners to continue to build a resilient arts and cultural ecology. Through the Cultural Compact and through supporting partners such as Birmingham City Council and GBSLEP we hope to extend and expand our networks beyond the sector demonstrating the impact culture can have city-wide.”

A dozen Birmingham girls who ‘dared to dream’ have been awarded the first grants from a special fund launched by Birmingham City Council and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity. 

Eight of these girls, aged nine to fifteen, were presented with their grants and certificates during a special event held at the Council House on World Book Day.

Set up using the council’s royalties from ‘Once Upon A Time In Birmingham: Women Who Dared To Dream’ – a book commissioned to mark the centenary of women getting the vote – the fund awarded grants totalling more than £2,000 in its inaugural year.

Launched by Birmingham City Council and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity in October 2019, the book’s legacy fund aims to help the next generation of fearless females pursue their ambitions and dreams.

This year, girls whose dreams include careers in sport, medicine, public health, politics, filmmaking and the performing arts, became the first in the city to benefit from this fund.

Applications could be made for individual grants of up to £250 to support academic or career dreams – be it an activity, course, books, equipment or accessing work experience.

A panel of four book champions representing the council and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity reviewed the applications and were impressed with the wide range of strong applications from girls across the city – which meant making some tough decisions.

Councillor Brigid Jones, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council – and one of the book champions who reviewed the applications - said: “The aim of ‘Once Upon A Time In Birmingham…’ was to inspire and encourage young women to be brave in pursuing their own dreams and ambitions. The council’s royalties from the book go directly into this fund, so I am thrilled to see the book realise its own dream by helping young women take their first steps toward achieving their goals."

Stephen Goldstein CBE DL, Chair of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity, added: “It’s great to see the first grants from this fund being awarded to young women who are passionate about pursuing their own dreams and ambitions, and we’re pleased to be able to support the city council in this innovative initiative to help open doors for the next generation.

It’s good to dream.”

Birmingham City Council joined forces with local publisher The Emma Press to produce ‘, which features 30 inspirational Birmingham women past and present, drawn from public nominations by young female writers from the Sparks Young Writers group.

Written, illustrated and published by local women, the book profiles a range of female achievement from women’s rights campaigner Jessie Eden to the first female computer programmer Mary Lee Berners-Lee, to education campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

A Coventry man who has helped break down racial and religious stereotypes has been presented with a Mayor of the West Midlands’ Community Champions award.

Imam Mohammed Hammad of the Iqra Learning Centre in Chapelfields received the Interfaith award at a ceremony held recently.

Mr Hammad’s tireless work has had a positive effect on the dynamics between Muslims and the broader community by breaking down barriers and stereotypes bringing together people from different backgrounds and beliefs.

Among the work he has done he has helped set up the Coventry winter night shelter which provides first line support for homeless people across Coventry, and five-a-side interfaith football.

Organised by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), the region’s first Community Champions awards were launched by the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, back in January.

The honours highlight the unsung heroes of the West Midlands who are making a difference to other people’s lives.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Across the West Midlands we have some brilliant community champions who work tirelessly and selflessly to improve the lives of others without any recognition. So, I was delighted to be able to hold a special night to thank these unsung heroes.

“A region is only as strong as the people living and working in it, and I truly believe here in the West Midlands we have the best region in the world.

“A big congratulations to the winners and all those nominated.”

 
The awards give people in the WMCA area the chance to nominate someone who has made a significant contribution to their area.

Cllr Brigid Jones, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council and WMCA portfolio holder for inclusive communities added: “These awards shine a light on the wide-ranging community work that is taking place in the West Midlands.

“We applaud the selfless work of all these individuals who strive to improve the lives and wellbeing of others without expecting any reward or recognition for themselves.”

Details of the other six winners are:

Life achievement - Sean Flynn  was chosen by the judges for his tireless work spanning more than four decades. Sean’s long history of volunteering started at the age of 18 and his philosophy throughout is to “treat others how you would like to be treated.” Through his volunteering with the charity Caritas, Sean was involved with the setting up of Tabor House, Birmingham’s only permanent night shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

In 2003, Sean along with members of Christ the King parish in Kingstanding started New Heights, Warren Farm Community Project. Under Sean’s direction and leadership New Heights offers a variety of activities and support to local people.

Cross Regional: West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) for its work as part of the national resilience arrangements, involving services across the country helping each other during big emergencies, aiding local communities affected by a major event. During 2019 crews from WMFS responded to three such deployments outside of their area in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and most recently the floods in South Yorkshire.

Intergenerational: Candy Woods - West Midlands Fire Service, Ladywood, Birmingham
After losing her home and belongings following a volcano eruption on the Caribbean island of Montserrat in 1997, Candy has had a desire to give something back and to help others who are less fortunate than herself.

In 2003 Candy launched the Winter Coat Appeal, which has now helped thousands of people in need. Ladywood Community Fire Station has acted as a collection and distribution centre, working with Candy to identify and work with vulnerable residents helping to make the community safer, stronger and healthier.

Social Mobility: Shamsun Chowdhury - Legacy WM, Birmingham
Shamsun has been supporting the communities of Lozells, Aston and Handsworth for the last 20 years. She works with more than 100 migrant women and children supporting them with integration, connecting them with services on offer and friendship networks to avoid isolation. 

Mentor: Michael Forbes - Gro-Organic, Chelmsley Wood - Michael has committed more than 10 years to working with the regions hardest to reach and disadvantaged young people including offenders, those at the attention of the police and on the brink of criminality. During the last three years alone, Michael has touched the lives of over 1,100 young people and has supported over 340 young people back into education, employment or training.

Michael now successfully draws on his own experiences to guide and mentor people who have been through significant trauma and life challenges.

Mentee: Raheem Ali - Who was one warning away from being excluded from school when he joined a mentoring programme which has showed him a new way of life. However, this would not have been possible without his newfound determination and aspirations. He is now engaged at school and has even started delivering peer mentoring in his spare time. He is working towards a mentoring qualification and plans to start an apprenticeship once he finishes school.

The story of the Jamaican nurses who helped to build the NHS

The past decade will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most transformative periods for women.

Female-led activism has defined the past ten years - from women’s rights, to environmentalism, to the fight against terror - women of all backgrounds have been leaders in many of the most powerful movements. 

Women-led protest movements have created platforms for everyday women and public figures alike to stand together and voice their thoughts, concerns and stories.

Now, personal biography-writing service StoryTerrace, has unveiled some of the most influential female activists of the decade according to professional storytellers. One of whom is Alina Wallace.

As Florence Nightingale is historically respected as a trailblazing figure who affected nursing policy in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, it was Mary Seacole, the Jamaican-British nurse who set up the ‘British Hotel’ behind the lines during the Crimean War who was at the forefront of how we see how nursing is practiced today.

Her (Mary Seacole) legacy lived on as, from 1948, the British Government funded recruitment drives to attract qualified nurses and trainees from the Caribbean to come to Britain – this played a huge part in creating the NHS which we cherish so dearly today. 

One particular group of nurses from Jamaica, who previously had no knowledge or experience of British culture, made the journey to the UK to work in the NHS. They later set up a charity known as the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) to help those facing discrimination and share harrowing personal experiences, which still stands today.Alina, one of the key members of the NAJ, has worked with StoryTerrace to document the lives of the Jamaican nurses, their travel and work in the UK to build the NHS, and the creation and work of the NAJ. It is an incredible tale of overcoming adversity, culture shock and adaptation, the beginnings of a treasured British institution, and the philosophy of the NAJ on sharing ideas and educating people on important health and social issues.

One of the NAJs members commented on the importance of documenting the individual efforts of Wallace and the NAJ: “As we celebrated our 49^th year, we felt that we had achieved so much, but also that we were getting on, and there weren’t many young people replacing us.

“A lot of incredible efforts and stories of Alina and these nurses have been lost and we are keen to document these stories in the right way.

Until now, there was nothing to document how we had achieved everything, and we felt the need to leave a legacy for the next generation”.

‘Unity is Strength: The story of the Jamaican nurses who helped to build the NHS’ highlights the women of excellence who were at the forefront of what was a new National Health Service.

Across the UK, 39% of children who are placed in care without a court order by local authorities are still living in this state of uncertainty with no long-term solution within 12 months, a figure which has resulted in a leading family lawyer sounding the alarm.

Law firm Ridley & Hall recently called on all UK councils to reveal the number of children currently accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act (14,284), and asked how many of these had in fact been in this situation for more than 12 months (5,592)*.

Local authorities can place children into care without a court order when they are deemed not to have somewhere suitable to live. This action can only be taken with a parent’s consent, and is intended to be a short-term measure while efforts are made to find a permanent solution. Unfortunately, the research shows that almost half of these children still do not have a permanent place to live a year later.

Now, an expert is calling for more resources for putting in place permanent care plans for Section 20 children who are already at risk of significant emotional harm.

The law

Originally introduced in an attempt to move child law away from the courts, the Section 20 provision of the Children Act 1989 was intended as a short-term measure. It enabled local authorities to quickly take over the responsibility of caring for children in a foster home or with another family member. However, there has been growing judicial concern that these particular looked-after children are being accommodated for unacceptably long periods of time before official care proceedings are initiated.

The research

Figures obtained from local authorities by Ridley and Hall Solicitors under Freedom of Information show that in the West Midlands, there were 1,398 children accommodated under Section 20 during summer 2019 of which 578 (41%) had been accommodated for over 12 months.

“This legislation, which is designed to give local authorities the power to provide accommodation for children without a court order when they do not have somewhere suitable to live, can be productive and helpful in some circumstances,” explains James Cook, director and head of childcare law at Ridley and Hall. “It is, for example, helpful in situations where their parents might need temporary respite. However, in our experience, the law is now being misused and abused with large numbers of children being kept in temporary care for lengthy periods of time.

This was never the intention of Section 20, and the potential implications for the children can be truly damaging.

“The primary concern has to be for the welfare of the children. The breakdown of family relationships due to prolonged separation, as well as the stigma of being in care and the anxiety caused by the uncertainty of where they will ultimately live, can be extremely harmful. There is no doubt that this can have real, detrimental long-term implications for the children.”

Mr Cook says: “There seems to be a lack of urgency in dealing with the long-term needs of Section 20 children; once they have been removed from the home, the local authority considers them to be less of a priority as they are out of immediate danger. No doubt, a lack of resources is partly to blame, but this needs to change.

“I want to urge local authorities to prioritise making longer-term plans via the courts in order to give these children the opportunity for their needs and wishes to be properly considered and represented.

“Despite ongoing pressure on public spending, the need to ensure that local authorities are adequately resourced is vital. We must ensure that they are able to effectively plan long-term care and so prevent more children from being lost in the system under Section 20.”

The National Emergencies Trust has today launched an appeal to raise funds to help local charities support those individuals suffering hardship as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The appeal has been launched with the support of media, business and governmental organisations, and in partnership with the British Red Cross who will be managing donations. The Trust will then award grants to ensure the funds reach those who need it most across the UK. The Duke of Cambridge, who attended the launch of NET in November 2019, has recorded a message in support of the appeal.

Donations can be made at: www.nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk.

Or through the following on-line giving platforms: Just Giving, Go Fund Me, Virgin Money Gives, Good Launch, Muslim Giving.

The National Emergencies Trust will distribute money raised through a number of charitable organisations, for example, local Community Foundations, to ensure it reaches those who need it most.

Those partners will work within parameters agreed with NET to help identify the greatest need and distribute funds with both care and speed wherever possible.

This partnership network has been created by the NET since it was set up last year, in response to recommendations by the Charity Commission following a series of UK emergencies in 2017. The public can be confident that funds will only be granted to trusted organisations who know best the needs of their local communities.

Individuals and charities should not apply directly to the NET for funds. Local charities should contact their local Community Foundation to apply for funding.

The Chairman of the National Emergencies Trust, Lord Dannatt, said: “The outbreak of coronavirus is clearly both a global and national emergency. Many people are suffering, not just from ill health but also from the economic impact as well as the effects of social distancing and isolation.

“While there is much that Government can and is doing, there is also a strong desire of the public to help others and there are local grassroots organisations that can provide vital support to people who need it. We will channel the money raised to those organisations so people who need it can get support as quickly as possible but also who will need these vital funds to continue to be there for the long haul.

“These are tough and uncertain times and we’re only asking those who can really afford to give to our appeal to do so. We will do our very best to channel the money raised to organisations where people who need it can get support as quickly as possible.”

The Duke of Cambridge said: “Whenever and wherever adversity strikes, the people of the UK have a unique ability to pull together. The way that local communities support those affected shows the very best of our values and human nature.

“The public’s desire to help in the wake of tragedy needs to be managed and channelled in the best possible way - which is why the establishment of National Emergencies Trust was so important.

“I said at its launch last year that I dreaded the day when it would be needed. Sadly, with the outbreak of Covid-19, that day has come faster than any of us would have hoped.

“But now, more than ever, I am grateful that The National Emergencies Trust exists. It will ensure that support reaches those across the UK who need it most, as quickly and efficiently as possible. And it will help to ensure that all our efforts to overcome this challenge are channelled in the best possible way.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “We are living in deeply uncertain times, and I know that people across the nation are keen to help in any way that they can.

“As a Government we are working closely with the charity sector, which is already playing a crucial role in the nation's response.

"The National Emergencies Trust will help to channel the amazing outpouring of generosity we are seeing from the British public and businesses, and ensure help reaches those most in need."

In time, the Trust will report back on how the money raised was spent, and work collaboratively with others in the sector to build on the insights and lessons learned and increase the UK’s capacity to prepare for, respond and recover from disasters in the UK.

Peak time restrictions on concessionary tram and bus passes will be lifted during the early morning rush hour to make it easier for the region’s older citizens and disabled people to get their shopping.

It follows the decision by leading supermarkets to open early, or set aside the first hour of business exclusively for older clients and those most vulnerable to Covid-19.

Travel under the English National Concessionary Pass (ENCTS) is normally only valid for journeys taken after 9.30am.

Now Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has joined forces with bus operators, including National Express to allow free travel before 9.30am for concessionary pass holders who have not yet self-isolated. The 9.30am restriction has also been lifted on the West Midlands Metro tram system, which is owned by the WMCA. 

The change is effective from Thursday, 19^th March and will continue until further notice.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “These are very difficult and worrying times for everyone, but especially our older citizens.

“Thankfully supermarkets have recognised this and are offering exclusive early shopping access so those who are not yet self-isolating can stock up while reducing their risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

“To help support this TfWM has agreed to extend the hours of the concessionary pass so older people can travel before 9.30am.

"TfWM will continue to do it all it can to help keep public transport moving during this challenging period."

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We are committed to help our most vulnerable citizens through this coronavirus outbreak as much as we can, and lifting peak time travel restriction is one way we can make life a little easier for some.

“We know shopping can be daunting right now, and these special shopping sessions for older people are a great idea, especially as a trip out in a safer environment can offer social interaction and break the feeling of isolation many will be feeling.”

Chris Gibbens, commercial director at National Express West Midlands, said: “Many of our customers pointed out that our senior citizens and disabled people can’t use their bus passes to access these special sessions in shops and banks.

“So I’m happy to say we’ve worked closely with Transport for West Midlands, via the West Midlands Bus Alliance, to make this free 0930 travel possible on all National Express bus services.

“We hope it will make it easier for the people of the West Midlands to cope better with the current situation.”

The first tree of over 1,000 committed along the route of Birmingham’s first cross-city bus service, Sprint, has been planted.

Cllr Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transport and environment and cllr Zafar Iqbal, councillor for Tyseley and Hay Mills, planted the tree next to the A45 in Small Heath to show support for Transport for West Midlands’ (TfWM) new bus route, which is set to be delivered in time for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Sprint scheme, now approved by Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet, reflects the region’s clean air policies and commitment to combatting climate change and as such, brings opportunity to increase the regions tree cover. 

Planting new trees and increasing tree canopy cover along the Sprint route will offer a range of benefits to local communities across Birmingham, including the reduction of carbon emissions and a positive impact on health and wellbeing, as well as visual improvements.

The improvements to the route will see up to 12,728m² of tree canopy coverage affected. To combat this and provide additional benefit, TfWM has committed to planting 1,156 new trees along the route.

After ten years these trees are expected to increase the original canopy coverage by 14% and at maturity, the canopy coverage is estimated to be nine times greater than coverage that current trees provide.

TfWM has been working with Birmingham City Council’s expert horticulturalists and engaging community organisations such as Birmingham Trees for Life to develop a proposal that supports a ‘green vision’ for Sprint and sustainable transport in the region.

TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) will be working closely with local authorities, schools and community and wildlife groups to establish potential planting locations along the route and within the local community. Plans will also be made for recycling affected trees which will include building projects, habitat creation and outdoor learning.

Cllr Ian Ward, transport portfolio holder for the WMCA and leader of Birmingham City Council, said that Transport for West Midlands is ploughing unprecedented investment in new tram, rail, bus and cycling infrastructure, including Sprint, to revolutionise the way we travel around the region, reducing reliance on private cars and improving the air we breathe.

He added: “Earlier this year, Birmingham was recognised as one of the Tree Cities of the World and so we are proud to support a scheme that will help us in our goal towards a better connected and more sustainable region.

“We are looking forward to working with local communities across Birmingham to plant the new trees, we have a real opportunity to work together to make our city greener.”

Cllr Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transport and environment at Birmingham City Council said: “The Sprint scheme will see the delivery of the first ever cross-city route for the region, providing a much-needed service for residents, commuters and visitors. "It is also the chance for the people of Birmingham to really get involved in the regeneration of their local areas.

“Our tree mitigation plans are an important part of delivering Sprint in a sustainable, green way. It will be key to achieving our vision of cleaner, greener and safer neighbourhoods across Birmingham.”

The new Sprint bus route will offer a green, fast transport alternative that will run along the A34 and A45 between Walsall and Birmingham Airport and Solihull via the city centre.

Quality, affordable homes are planned to be built for nurses and other low paid staff working at the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital under a multi-million-pound land deal struck by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

With many nurses and key workers struggling to get a foot on the property ladder, the WMCA has stepped in to buy two plots of industrial land within a short walk of the hospital which is currently under construction in Sandwell.

The combined authority intends to use the plots in Abberley Street and Cranford Way, Smethwick to provide quality new houses and apartments, at least 40 of which will be affordable homes available specifically to those on modest incomes.

The WMCA will now clean up the sites before submitting a planning application. A development partner will then be secured to deliver around 200 homes while implementing its standard funding condition that requires at least 20% of all the new properties to be affordable. This will be set against its new landmark regional affordable housing definition announced earlier this month. 

The Midland Metropolitan Hospital is being built on a six-acre site a short distance away in Grove Lane and is scheduled to open in summer 2022.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, who announced the deal today at the Abberley Street site, said: “NHS and other key workers make a vital contribution to society right across the West Midlands, but like many others in the region they have seen house prices outstrip wages in recent years and found it impossible to get on the housing ladder.

"On top of this, many also struggle to find homes close to where they work, which means long commutes and added pressure on what are already demanding jobs.

“The WMCA and its partners are determined to tackle this housing affordability issue, and that is exactly what we are trying to do at Abberley Street and Cranford Way.

"Not only will these homes be a stone's throw from the Midland Metropolitan hospital, but at least 20% of the houses and apartments will be affordable including homes which specifically meet our new regional definition linked to income rather than the property market rate."

Redevelopment of the area has been a long-standing priority for Sandwell Council.

Sandwell Council Leader Cllr Yvonne Davies said she was delighted the council and WMCA had been able to agree funding for two plots of industrial land with a view to cleaning up the sites and attracting a development partner to deliver new homes for local people. 

She said: “Working with WMCA, Sandwell is pleased to have secured additional investment around the Midlands Metropolitan Hospital to ensure that staff have access to affordable homes and that the area is brought back into residential use.”

The land purchases are just the latest in a number of WMCA initiatives to make housing more affordable.

Last month the WMCA become the first region in the UK to introduce its own localised definition of affordable housing, linking the definition to the real-world incomes of people in the area rather than to local house prices.

The new definition is based on local people paying no more than 35% of their salary on mortgages or rent.

Cllr Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio holder for housing and land and leader of Walsall Council, said: “This is another example of how the WMCA and its partners are changing the housing market, using our funding to deliver affordable homes for key workers in society.

“It’s about building the homes we need in the places where we need them, using brownfield land to regenerate local areas and help preserve our environment.”

The West Midlands needs to build 215,000 new homes by 2031 to meet future housing and economic demand.

To help reach the target the WMCA has introduced a ‘brownfield first’ policy where new homes and commercial developments are built on former industrial land wherever possible and has secured new funding from national government to help make it happen.

With such sites being notoriously difficult to build on because of the high clean-up costs for developers, and other constraints, the WMCA has committed substantial funding for land purchases and for brownfield remediation so sites can be made viable for development.

The policy and other investment to unlock new urban sites has helped see the number of new homes built in the West Midlands more than double over the last eight years.

A total of 16,938 properties were built in 2018/19 - a 15% rise on the previous year and twice the UK average increase. That compares to just 7,500 homes built in 2011.

Sandwell Council has announced the suspension of all Council debt-related court action against residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

Council Leader Councillor Yvonne Davies said the authority was determined not to pile more pressure onto people at this enormously challenging time. 

She said: “We understand that this is very stressful for everyone and our primary concern right now is for the people of Sandwell and how we can support them in this very challenging situation.

“So we have taken the decision to suspend all our court action for debt and will not be pursuing people while this situation lasts.

“All the advice is that the situation is highly likely to worsen in the coming weeks and we just want to act in the best interests of our people.

“We’re taking this action to try to take some pressure off people who, quite frankly, have enough to worry about right now.

“We are setting up a temporary hotline on 0121 569 5333 from Monday for people with concerns about debt and how coronavirus is going to impact on them.

“They can talk in person and we can point them to the latest official advice about how to protect themselves.  

“Please do not use this hotline for normal council issues as it is purely for concerns about debt and coronavirus.”

Councillor Davies said the Council was looking into providing a further package of measures to help people and that more information would follow next week.